The Evaluation and Treatment Staff

Dr. Paul Beljan is a Scottsdale, Arizona neuropsychologist in private practice. Dr. Beljan serves at the Governor’s pleasure on the Arizona Board of Psychological Examiners. He completed two Post-Doctoral Fellowship programs specializing in Pediatric (Medical) Psychology and Pediatric Neuropsychology. He holds child and adult diplomate certifications with the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology (ABPdN) and the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology (ABN). Dr. Beljan is a past president of the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology (ABPdN). In 2016, Dr. Beljan completed a post-doctoral master’s degree in psychopharmachology from New Mexico State University. Dr. Beljan’s professional focus is on Gifted Intelligence, Alcohol/Drug Related Neurodevelopmental Deficit (A/DRND), Learning Disorders, Traumatic Brain Injury, Physical and Emotional Trauma, and Attention and Executive Functioning Deficit and associated interventions. His hospital based work in pediatric psychology and pediatric neuropsychology has included assessment, pain management and trauma recovery with children suffering from burns, cancer, sickle cell anemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, Alcohol/Drug Related Neurodevelopmental Deficit (A/DRND), traumatic brain injury, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and learning disorders. He also evaluated thousands of infants in neonatal clinics.

Dr. Beljan is an expert in evaluating and understanding gifted children and their common misdiagnoses. He is a co-author of the book: Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children and Adults and the soon to be released Large Scale Brain Systems and Neuropsychological Assessment. The Misdiagnosis book is a Legacy Book Award Winner, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award Winner, and Arizona Book Award Winner. Dr. Beljan also has authored several chapters and articles in various publications.

Prior to obtaining his doctorate in clinical psychology, Dr. Beljan worked in public school severe behavior handicap (SBH) programs as a behavioral intervention specialist. He also conducted psychotherapy with children and adults in community mental health settings. During that time he became a graduate of the Kettering Character Disorders Institute.

Beljan Psychological Services draws patients from around the United States and internationally. Dr. Beljan has taught gifted education and pediatric neuropsychology at the master’s and doctoral levels. He lectures nationally on numerous topics associated with giftedness and pediatric neuropsychology. Dr. Beljan is a nationally retained expert in forensic neuropsychology within the civil, and juvenile and criminal justice levels. His current professional interests are in psychopharmacology and developing an integrative clinic style of private practice that offers families comprehensive psychological services and neurocognitive intervention using the Motor Cognition2 program developed at Beljan Psychological Services.

Dr. Laura Wingers is a clinical psychologist in private practice at Beljan Psychological Services in Scottsdale. Her training and experience in pediatric neuropsychology, clinical psychology, and school psychology has included work in schools, hospitals, and private practice settings. Dr. Wingers’ current work with children and families incorporates assessment and consultation for academic, behavioral, intellectual, and social-emotional needs. Her professional focus includes early childhood issues, gifted intellect and developmental asynchrony, learning disorders, attention and executive function impairments, and mood disorders.

Dr. Wingers provides developmental evaluations for preschool and kindergarten age children, school readiness testing, parent consultation, educational consultation, and neurodevelopmental, psychological, and psychoeducational assessment for elementary age children. Common concerns that warrant assessment include identification of giftedness, attention problems, learning difficulties, and emotional/behavioral problems. Common concerns addressed in a consultative role include improving coping and problem solving skills, reducing anxiety, and managing impulse control disorders. She welcomes the opportunity to hear from you about specific areas of need for your child or family and can provide additional referrals upon request.

Dr. Wingers is a licensed psychologist with training in clinical psychology and pediatric neuropsychology. She is also a nationally certified school psychologist. She holds a Doctor of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology from Capella University. She earned a Master of Science in Education degree with specialization in School Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication and Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Dr. Wingers is active in a number of professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Arizona Psychological Association, the Arizona Neuropsychological Society, and the Children’s Services Network.

Her research interests include publications and local, state and national presentations on early identification of giftedness, executive function skill development in early childhood, differential diagnosis and gifted asynchrony, developmental assessment, parents’ help-seeking during the gifted identification process, mindfulness in parenting, and working with gifted and twice-exceptional learners in the classroom.

Dr. Berens is a licensed psychologist who has worked with a wide array of disorders and diverse populations. Dr. Berens works with adolescents, adults, families, and couples in individual or group sessions. She has extensive background working with intimate partner violence, individuals recovering from traumatic events, and anxiety disorders. She also specializes in working with mood disorders, sleep disorders and the gifted population. Dr. Berens received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Imago Relationship Therapy and Mindfulness. Dr. Berens also conducts psychological evaluations and personality testing. The evaluations helps determine the core components of a person\'s psychological functioning, coping skills, behaviors, and personality traits to assist in creating an effective treatment goal plan or treatment recommendations.

Dr. Berens believes change is possible with a supportive working alliance to create new ways of coping and thinking to manage the stress in your life. She offers a safe, warm, yet challenging environment to help heal from the past and transition to the future. Psychotherapy enables people to overcome negative, repetitive patterns and make meaningful changes in their lives. Her goal is to help empower individuals whom she works with to become better versions of themselves and to be able to move forward in their lives.

Dr. Berens graduated from New Mexico State University and completed her internship at Eastern Kansas VA Hospital to further her specialization in trauma work and anxiety disorders. She received her bachelor\'s degree in psychology at Arizona State University and her Master’s Degree in Counseling at Northern Arizona University. She has been a guest lecturer at Paradise Valley Community College and has given presentations on Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Abuse, Relationships and Sleep Disorders throughout the valley. Dr. Berens is a member of American Psychological Association and Arizona Psychological Association.

Casey Heinsch is a licensed associate marriage and family therapist who has experience working with diverse populations and challenges. Casey primarily works with challenges and disorders presented in couples, parenting, and family dynamics. Casey’s approach is rooted in systemic perspectives and incorporating emotional regulation techniques and mindfulness informed interventions.

She received her Master’s degree from Arizona State University in Marriage and Family Therapy. During her two internships at ASU she worked simultaneously in a private practice and within an agency. Her experiences focused on couples, co-parenting, behavioral planning, emotional regulation and families. After graduation, she worked in non-traditional clinical setting as an equine psychotherapist and therapeutic riding instructor. This work focused on mindfulness informed interventions for youth and families facing challenges with mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and gifted abilities. As a psychotherapist, Casey has developed specialties in bereavement, emotional regulation, co-parenting, LGBTQ populations and families.

Before obtaining her graduate degree, Casey received her Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Human Development. She was involved in research that examined youth confronting identity development and relationships in social contexts. Her clinical experiences included grief support groups, respite provider for families facing terminal illnesses, and vocational coaching for intellectual disabilities.

Fun facts about Casey:

In 2011, she was part of student group that pioneered a study abroad program in Rwanda, Africa examining family systems in primates. A few years later she spent time in Malawi, Africa working with village community members to build homes for foster families. Since then she has developed professional and personal connections with community members from both African countries.

Sarah Bald is a postdoctoral resident at Beljan Psychological Services. She recently completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Phoenix. Dr. Bald completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University and her Bachelors of Science in Psychology at Arizona State University.

Dr. Bald's clinical experience includes child and family psychotherapy, group therapy, social skills development, and pediatric neuropsychology. She completed her predoctoral internship in the Avondale Elementary School District. Dr. Bald's professional interests include assessment and consultation of early childhood development, gifted intellect, learning disorders, and executive functioning impairments.

Dr. Bald has presented her research at the annual scientific conferences of the American Neurological Association and the Gerontological Society of America. She has abstracts published in The Gerontologist and the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. Her research interests include lifespan development and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Dr. Bald is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA). She has previously served as a Student Representative and a Key Constituent Psychologist (KCP) for AzPA.

MC2

Darrean has always enjoyed working with children. She recently worked in before and after school programs at Cooper Canyon and Pueblo Elementary School. Darrean has volunteered working as a student leader with the youth ministry at Scottsdale Worship Center. Her passion and love for working with children began when she started babysitting for her younger siblings and children in her neighborhood.

Darrean currently is a student at Arizona State University working on a Bachelor's degree in Family and Human Development. She hopes to someday help children who have had a difficult life and lived in abusive and neglectful homes to turn their lives in a successful direction.

Education:
Robyn has completed two years of her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), and is currently completing the remainder of her BA in Psychology at Arizona State University.
Upon graduation, Robyn would like to continue working for and growing with Beljan Psychological Services, LLC and Motor Cognition2®.

Current Areas of Specialty:
Robyn specializes in the administration of therapeutic programs targeting executive function skills and learning disorders.
Over the last three years, Robyn has incorporated her training in MC2®, Lindamood-Bell®, and Handwriting Without Tears® in her work with children and adolescents with various learning disorders. She greatly enjoys the special challenges of helping these children develop greater self-esteem in overcoming their education hurdles.

Current Populations of Interest:
General: children and adolescents ranging from 4 to 18 years old

Additional Professional Work:
Before joining Beljan Psychological Services, Robyn was employed as Operations Manager at Berry-Shino Securities, Inc., beginning in 2009. She continued her employment at Berry-Shino Securities until recently, when she became more involved in the development and management of the Motor Cognition2® program.

Fun Facts:
Robyn played competitive soccer for ten years, so she likes to stay active by hiking and riding her bike, or getting a lively game of sand volleyball going with her friends. However, her favorite sport is beating her younger brother at smash ball during the family trips to the beach.

Administration

Charity is an Arizona native who has devoted much of her time and education to working with children. She has completed an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in Elementary Education, and has been working with children for over ten years. Charity has a wealth of experience in working with young children; including teaching Sunday school, leading youth, tutoring children with disabilities, working as a teacher’s assistant, and working as a full time care giver.

Charity joined Beljan Psychological Services in August, 2013 to pursue professional experience in business administration. As our office manager, Charity spends much of her time coordinating patient services for our psychologists, therapists, and students, while also keeping a caring and watchful eye over our children’s play area in the waiting room. Charity is the solo office manager of Beljan Psychological Services and MC2 and has learned the complex multi-tasking necessary.

Charity has learned and become proficient in managing all aspects of our office including scheduling, billing, accounting, maintaining all of our testing materials, forensic cases, and working with insurance companies as necessary. Charity also learned how to operate QuickBooks with no past experience and is now a certified user. Charity has been trained in the MC2 program and is now working with clients

Charity loves to spend her time volunteering when she can. She currently volunteers for the American Indian Christian Mission up north.

We are thrilled with her professional service, as well as her gift for connecting with children.

Ambiance

Puka found her niche at our offices and is now a team leader in charge of greeting children. She has been identified as a gifted dog, especially for her food stealing abilities. Puka enjoys chasing lizards and assisting children who are anxious or unsure about being tested. She uses licks, tail wags, and adorability to help soothe any child. Puka hopes to attend Therapy Dog School soon and eventually pursue graduate studies in Pediatric Canine Psychology. She has been a valued asset to our practice.

Beljan Psychological Services specializes in pediatric neuropsychology. With a focus on brain-based disorders, we provide an array of diagnostic and treatment services including assessment, consultation, psychotherapy, neurocognitive therapy, reading intervention, and forensic evaluation. Our associates are trained in an array of specialties, such as, learning disabilities, developmental disorders, executive function disorders, brain injury, depression, anxiety, trauma, gifted identification, and family counseling. In addition to direct services, we offer educational programs/lectures for teachers, parents, and other professionals. We strive to provide the highest quality of services using empirically supported and individualized treatment approaches.

General Policies and Privacy

Appointments:

Patient meetings are by appointment only. We cannot accommodate walk-in service due to the nature of our practice. Call our office at (602)957-7600 for an appointment. If no one is available, please leave a message that contains your name, time you called, and your phone number. We will return your call within one business day.

Cancellation Policy

Please give us 24 hour notice if you need to make a cancellation or change your appointment time. Any 'no-show' appointment that was not given a 24 hour notice will be charged for one hour.

Costs and Insurance:

Beljan Psychological Services is a fee for service practice that charges by the hour for assessment and therapy. The hours needed to complete therapy or assessments can vary based on your individual needs. We accept payment in the form of cash, checks, or credit cards (American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover). Although we do not accept insurance, we will provide CPT and Diagnostic codes to assist your filing for insurance reimbursement. Our fee structure is available upon request for these various services.

Regarding the Use of Email

Although I use a firewall and my computer is password protected, my emails are not encrypted. Therefore, I cannot guarantee confidentiality of email communication. If you choose to communicate confidential information with me via email, I will assume that you have made an informed decision and I will view it as your agreement to take the risk that email may be intercepted. Please be aware that email is never an appropriate vehicle for emergency communication.